Yun Zhaozhao had never attended a Taoist conference and had no idea what people actually did at one, but with the humble belief that young people ought to learn more, she accepted Lawyer Wang's kind offer in the end.
When Daoist Chang Kong and Jingting heard that Yun Zhaozhao was going to attend a Taoist conference, they were quite excited.
Jingting especially. The first thing out of his mouth was, "Has Clear Breeze Temple already made it this far? We can even attend Taoist conferences now?"
Yun Zhaozhao was very levelheaded. "Could it be that this Taoist conference has no entry requirements at all, and any Taoist temple can attend? Think about it. If even Clear Breeze Temple can attend, how important could this conference possibly be?"
Jingting was quite optimistic. "At least it proves that Clear Breeze Temple is recognized by the entire Taoist community!"
Yun Zhaozhao nodded. "Good point!"
Daoist Chang Kong said, "Since you're going to a conference, I'll pack you some extra food to take along, just in case."
Yun Zhaozhao didn't think it was necessary. "They should provide meals at the conference, shouldn't they? Besides, I'm going in the morning and coming back that evening. Surely I won't go hungry?"
Daoist Chang Kong glanced at her. "Have you never been to a meeting?"
Yun Zhaozhao had nothing to say, because she really hadn't been to many. Forget meetings for Taoist priests-as a fresh graduate who had become unemployed the moment she graduated, she had never even seen company executives hold a meeting!
The last gathering she had attended seemed to have been her graduation ceremony. The principal had stood onstage delivering an impassioned speech about how they were proud of their school today, and tomorrow their school would be proud of them. His words had set Yun Zhaozhao's blood boiling with enthusiasm at the time. Then, starting the next day, she had spent half a year holed up at home looking for a job.
With the air of someone who had been through it all, Daoist Chang Kong said, "Go and you'll see."
Yun Zhaozhao arrived early that day at True Yang Temple on Mount Tiantai, following the address on the invitation. Before leaving, she had ultimately picked up the food container Daoist Chang Kong had prepared for her of her own accord. It wasn't that she was afraid of going hungry. She figured that since she was going out anyway, she might as well take the opportunity to promote Daoist Chang Kong's cooking. What if someone happened to have a taste for it? Wouldn't that quietly bring them another batch of potential customers?
This Taoist conference was being held at True Yang Temple on Mount Tiantai. Yun Zhaozhao had heard of True Yang Temple's great reputation before and knew it was the largest Taoist temple in the area.
As the abbot of a tiny temple, all Yun Zhaozhao could do when faced with True Yang Temple was look up to it-and keep looking up.
Many of the guests invited to this Taoist conference were also renowned figures. Yun Zhaozhao took a casual look at their titles: president of this association, founder of that conference. Even the few Daoists whose titles were simply ordinary Taoist priests had white hair and youthful faces, with extraordinary bearing. One glance was enough to tell they were no ordinary people.
Compared with these seasoned figures, the title "Abbot of Clear Breeze Temple" hanging over Yun Zhaozhao's head didn't amount to much.
Especially once they heard that Clear Breeze Temple had only three people, including Yun Zhaozhao herself as abbot. Although no one said it outright, they had already excluded Yun Zhaozhao and Clear Breeze Temple from their social circles.
After all, never mind an entire temple-even the very smallest hall at their temples had more than three people.
What could a temple like Clear Breeze Temple possibly amount to when it was one player short of even filling a mahjong table?
Yun Zhaozhao might have lacked seniority, but she wasn't stupid. Of course she could sense the invisible hierarchy of disdain at this gathering, and she was undoubtedly at its very bottom for now. As the saying went, you shouldn't force your way into a circle where you didn't belong. So rather than wandering around the venue holding forth like everyone else, Yun Zhaozhao simply found a corner to sit in by herself and waited for the conference to officially begin.
There was still more than half an hour before the conference began, though. Just sitting there was rather boring, while looking at her phone in this setting felt a little rude. After considering her options, Yun Zhaozhao finally took out the book she carried with her and began to read.
This time, she wasn't reading Fortune-Telling Crash Course in 30 Days, but a book on management. According to the book, an excellent manager needed four major skills: communication, organization, coordination, and decision-making... Yun Zhaozhao assessed herself against each one and discovered that she seemed fairly decent at all of them, but didn't particularly excel in any.
With a book to read, time passed quickly.
Once the half hour was up, the conference began right on schedule.
To be honest, Yun Zhaozhao was genuinely curious about what these Taoist priests would discuss at a conference. To make sure she learned as much as possible, she had even brought a pen and notebook in her backpack, ready to jot down any highlights at a moment's notice.
But in reality, once one president finished speaking, it was the next president's turn. Every speaker introduced how impressive his own organization was, then offered a lofty, sweeping outlook on the future of the Taoist field. As for the Taoist temple management experience Yun Zhaozhao had been looking forward to, no one discussed it at all.
And these presidents clearly attended meetings regularly. They could speak at length with ease without even drafting their speeches. Each person spoke for an hour, and after three or five took their turns, the morning was soon gone.
Yun Zhaozhao kept waiting for the conference to take a break so they could hurry up and eat. After all, at Clear Breeze Temple, nothing was more important than mealtime.
Here, however, no one seemed to get hungry.
Not only did the presidents onstage show no intention of stopping for a break, but the audience below also sat upright and attentive.
Yun Zhaozhao quietly asked a fairly amiable-looking Taoist priest beside her, "Do you know how much longer this conference will last?"
The priest lowered his voice. "Three days."
Yun Zhaozhao: "...????"
Yun Zhaozhao asked, "We're not eating for three days?"
With an inscrutable expression, the priest said, "Those who cultivate the Dao should distance themselves from the mortal world and must not pursue the pleasures of the palate excessively. Only by clearing the mind and curbing desire can one attain inner peace."
Yun Zhaozhao sighed. From the sound of it, going without food was apparently fine.
The Taoist priests could endure going without food, but Yun Zhaozhao really couldn't. She had somewhat low blood sugar and was prone to dizziness if she didn't eat on time.
Only now did she finally understand why Daoist Chang Kong had told her to bring food to the conference. He had probably suffered enough from going hungry during temple conferences in the past, which was why he had made a point of warning her.
Yun Zhaozhao figured she would just sneak a little food to tide herself over. She was sitting right at the back anyway. Surely no one would notice.
With that thought, Yun Zhaozhao stealthily unzipped her backpack, took out the lunch box Daoist Chang Kong had prepared for her, then, moving with the utmost care, slowly... slowly... lifted the lid.
With a faint click, the aroma of mala duck necks and braised beef instantly filled the entire venue.
Yun Zhaozhao: "..."
The Daoist beside Yun Zhaozhao, who had just been talking about clearing the mind and curbing desire: "..."
You brought mala duck necks and braised beef to a conference? Why didn't you just bring instant noodles while you were at it? I told you to distance yourself from society, not take revenge on it!
Chapter 14
Thanks to Yun Zhaozhao's box of mala duck necks and braised beef, that morning's Taoist temple conference ended far earlier than planned, even seeming a little rushed.
There was no helping it. They were all ordinary mortals, after all. No one could discuss the future development of the Taoist field on an empty stomach while smelling mala duck necks and braised beef.
Before there could be development, people first had to fill their stomachs. That had been true throughout the ages.
Yun Zhaozhao was actually very sorry, too, but before coming, she really hadn't known that the container held mala duck necks and braised beef. If she had known, she probably would have concealed it more carefully-for instance, she might have opened it secretly inside her backpack rather than taking it out in plain sight.
But what was done was done, and there was nothing to be done about it. Eating came first.
The Taoist temple conference did provide meals that day, and they were even served buffet-style.
However, since quite a few of the Taoist priests present were vegetarian, most of the dishes were vegetable-based.
When Yun Zhaozhao had first taken over Clear Breeze Temple, she had eaten vegetarian food for a while because she had no money. Later, she had also eaten plenty of vegetarian food with Daoist Chang Kong, so going without meat wasn't particularly unbearable for her.
In fact, because Daoist Chang Kong could make vegetarian dishes taste even better than meat dishes, Yun Zhaozhao had very high expectations for the vegetarian food at True Yang Temple, which was known as the largest temple in the area.
But after picking up a bowl of vegetarian noodles and trying a couple of mouthfuls, she realized she might have thought too highly of True Yang Temple.
It wasn't that the vegetarian noodles tasted bad; they were just too bland. It felt like a bowl of plain boiled water with a few noodles added. The noodles tasted of noodles, the water tasted of water, and neither had anything to do with the other. At that moment, Yun Zhaozhao couldn't help missing Daoist Chang Kong's vegetarian noodles. They were both vegetarian noodles, but his were light and pleasantly chewy, with the broth thoroughly permeating the noodles. Add a spoonful of chili oil, and that flavor... it leaped right up with a scratch.
Getting a bowl of vegetarian noodles made by Daoist Chang Kong himself was probably out of the question right now, but Yun Zhaozhao still had his homemade mala duck necks and braised beef to satisfy her cravings. The bowl of vegetarian noodles in her hands was so bland that it ought to be just right for easing the heat of the mala duck necks.
With that thought, Yun Zhaozhao carried her vegetarian noodles to a dining table, sat down, and once again opened the lunch box in her bag.
Who knew what secret spices Daoist Chang Kong had put into the duck necks and beef this time? Whatever they were, the duck necks and beef smelled especially fragrant, with a numbing, spicy aroma. Yun Zhaozhao set the box of mala duck necks and braised beef on the table, alternating mouthfuls of vegetarian noodles with bites of duck neck. She ate with such relish that the people passing by couldn't help giving her a few extra looks.
Or rather, giving the duck necks beside her a few extra looks.
Many even wondered to themselves, I never thought mala duck necks were all that delicious before. Why does seeing them now make me crave them so badly?
Yun Zhaozhao had come to the conference intending to promote Clear Breeze Temple's food in the first place, so she responded to everyone's attention with considerable enthusiasm. "Want to try some? These duck necks and braised beef were made by our head cook at Clear Breeze Temple. They taste absolutely amazing. You couldn't buy them anywhere else even if you wanted to!"